Two nights ago I went to see the band The Last Drops at the Feszek Club. Until last night I was not aware that this former communist-period artists' club, well-known to have the best cold cherry soup in the city, also had a small music club and bar downstairs. With the exception of Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, and The Random Chocolates, I have rarely seen a band visibly enjoy themselves so much on stage.

The Last Drops could be classified as alt.country, southern rock, or self-styled “barn rock.” The band only plays covers for the moment, but an exceedingly wide range of them: Wilco, Johnny Cash, The Band, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan…in fact, enough to play 3 sets  and still have a few more up their sleeves for the after-party. Matt has a great voice and radiates joy to be alive when he sings; and Greg the drummer – I have never seen a kid so happy to be pounding a drum since the kisdobos in the Hungarian classic film Csinibaba. Just like Dolly Parton’s cover of Stairway to Heaven, The Last Drop’s barn-rock version of Thunderstruck must be heard. Great voice, energy, choice of covers, and report with the audience. Mookie Brando now has some company on the Budapest alt.country scene. There is talk about getting the two bands together for a festival. Catch them for the last time before the summer break next Thursday, June 5^th at Cafe Montmartre, (Zrinyi utca 18).